The Jason Bay Trade Revisited
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsbugh Post-Gazette recounts the details of the deadline deal that sent Jason Bay to Boston, specifically the final 7 minutes that reshaped the future of the Pirates organization. It's a really interesting read for any rumor-enthusiasts. Some points of interest:
- According to Kovacevic, before finally dealing Bay at the buzzer, Pittsburgh had been working on dealing Bay for over a year and a half.
- Before the 2008 season, the Bucs had come close to dealing Bay and catcher Ronny Paulino to Cleveland for Cliff Lee, Franklin Guttierez, and Kelly Shoppach. The Pirates did not feel it was enough and killed it.
- Just 20 minutes before the 4p.m. deadline, Kovacevic says the Braves and Rays were considered the primary trading partners, particularly the "prospect-rich Rays." But with only 15 minutes left, "the Pirates called each [team] to insist upon a specific prospect package and summarily were rejected," writes Kovacevic.
The Rays Index takes a look at this article from a Tampa Bay perspective.
Gary Sheffield Rumors: Friday
It seems that the Mets may join the Phillies and Reds in the Gary Sheffield sweepstakes. According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, "Sheffield's availability intrigues team officials." Rubin cautions that an internal meeting about the subject has yet to take place. Rubin believes Sheffield would have to start with a bench role, and the Mets might have to release Marlon Anderson to clear that spot. MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone would like Anderson to be replaced with Frank Catalanotto instead.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post also thinks Sheffield is on the Mets' radar, and does believe they "have held some in-depth discussions on if they should sign the guy."
How about the Dodgers? Ramona Shelburne of the L.A. Daily News talked to Joe Torre, who said it wouldn't make sense.
Click here to catch up on yesterday's Sheffield happenings.
Rosenthal On Sheffield, Repko, McPherson
A look at Ken Rosenthal's column from yesterday afternoon…
- The Marlins chose Ross Gload over Frank Catalanotto, but are still considering signing Cat for the minimum now that he's been released.
- The Braves are not interested in bringing back Gary Sheffield. Meanwhile, Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets (as well as the Phillies and Reds) have an eye on Sheffield.
- Sheffield is apparently the only right-handed hitter on the Phillies' radar. Rosenthal learned that the Rockies' asking price for Jeff Baker is high.
- The Braves almost made a deal for Dodgers outfielder Jason Repko, but backed off recently.
- The Yankees will pass on Dallas McPherson, but the Giants may consider him.
- The Yanks don't seem desperate to move Melky Cabrera. They've received multiple calls on him but Rosenthal says "the team will only move him for the right price."
Odds & Ends: Colletti, Youkilis, Turnbow
Links for Tuesday…
- Chat today, 2pm CST.
- Rays info from Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times: they're trying to figure out a way to keep Jason Isringhausen, and they've released pitcher Chuck Tiffany (part of the Danys Baez trade in '06).
- In talking to Ramona Shelburne of the L.A. Daily News, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti explained his success reading the market this offseason. He also said, "I believe there will be some players available on July 31st that normally would never be available."
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday reminds us of past trade discussions involving Kevin Youkilis, before he was highly regarded.
- Baseball America's Jim Callis notes that the Cubs released "three of their top picks from the last six drafts this spring: outfielder Ryan Harvey, the sixth overall pick in 2003; righthander Grant Johnson, a second-rounder in 2004; and lefty Mark Pawelek, the 20th overall choice in 2005."
- According to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, Rangers reliever Derrick Turnbow's opt-out date is Thursday. He's talking to his agent about whether he should head to Triple A Oklahoma.
- MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince says lefty reliever Juan Lara signed a minor league deal with the Indians – "just 16 months after a car accident nearly took his life."
Dodgers, Will Ohman Agree To Terms
7:30pm: Diamond Leung has the terms of the minor league deal. Ohman makes at least $1.35MM if he's on the team and he could add $200K to that total based on incentives. The Dodgers have the option of paying him $2MM next year or buying him out for $200K. Tony Jackson of the LA Daily News reports that the club option is for $2.2MM.
Ohman can also opt out of the deal if he's not called up by April 14th.
6:49pm: According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports it's a one year minor league deal. MLB.com's Ken Gurnick adds that there's an option for a second year. He doesn't say whether Ohman controls the option or the Dodgers do, but it's presumably under the team's control.
6:20pm: According to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers agreed to terms with lefty reliever Will Ohman. Terms are not known yet, but Dylan Hernandez wrote this morning that the Dodgers offered around $1MM.
With the season starting in a week, hopefully Ohman will be ready. He worked out for the Dodgers yesterday and Joe Torre seemed unimpressed. Last year he did a nice job shutting down lefty hitters.
Odds & Ends: Smoltz, Cubs, Melky, Lima
Links for Monday…
- Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle writes about the Giants' lack of interest in Adam Melhuse and considers other players who could help.
- Alex Speier of WEEI looks back at the Doyle Alexander for John Smoltz trade of 1987. According to former Tigers GM Bill Lajoie, the Braves would have taken Steve Searcy instead of Smoltz.
- Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald says the Cubs "appear to be getting some trade feelers" on out of options relievers Chad Gaudin and Angel Guzman. Moving one could create space for Rule 5 pick David Patton.
- Tyler Hissey of Around The Majors looks back at the Delmon Young/Matt Garza swap. What did MLBTR commenters think when the deal went down on November 28th, 2007? Click here to find out. Garza will face the Twins for the first time today.
- Eddie Bajek of Detroit Tigers Thoughts says the Tigers are apparently trying to recreate the bullpen of the 2007 Rays.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes Melky Cabrera would be best served as an NL bench player.
- T.J. Simers of the L.A. Times discusses the Dodgers' $47MM bust, Jason Schmidt.
- Aaron Shinsano of East Windup Chronicle has more Korean prospect news: the Royals signed catcher Shin Jin-ho, while the Mariners signed catcher Choi Ji-man.
- Jose Lima is back playing baseball in the U.S., according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times.
- Will Sommer of Mets Fans Forever talked to GM Omar Minaya.
- Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post looks at the Marlins' decision to non-tender reliever Joe Nelson. It would've made a lot of sense to bring him back.
Dodgers Make Offer To Will Ohman
Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times has the latest on free agent lefty Will Ohman, who auditioned for the Dodgers yesterday. Hernandez says the Dodgers offered Ohman about $1MM, half of his reported asking price. They're waiting to hear back. Joe Beimel managed to snag $2MM from Washington on March 18th.
Hernandez says the Dodgers need Ohman as much as he needs them, as they're considering Erick Threets and Brian Mazone for the situational lefty role.
Dodgers Talking With Ohman?
4:22pm: Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times writes that Torre wasn't sure Ohman was as ready as he's been advertising. Ohman maintains that he's been working hard with the intention of being ready for Opening Day, and that he's reached that point. Torre disagreed:
Of Ohman's command when he pitched to minor leaguers in front of the Dodgers' brain trust, Torre said, "You can see he hasn't been pitched in games."
1:16pm: On his blog at MLB.com, Ken Gurnick writes that the Dodgers gave free-agent lefty Will Ohman a tryout this morning. Joe Torre joined nearly the entire Dodger front office in attendance.
Ohman, 31, has held opposing lefties to just a .197 batting average for his career. He's been holding out for quite some time now, despite interest from several teams. Most recently we've heard that the Pirates have been increasing their interest, and that the Phillies were out as a result of Ohman's $2MM asking price.
Bill Shaikin of the LA Times cites Dylan Hernandez (also of the Times), saying that following the tryout, Ohman and his agent headed into a meeting with Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti.
Doug Mientkiewicz To Make Dodgers?
Ramona Shelburne of the Los Angeles Daily News writes that Doug Mientkiewicz "seems to have played himself into contention for a spot on the Dodgers' Opening Day roster."
Just a month ago, Mientkiewicz was pondering retirement. Now he's being viewed as an ideal left-handed pinch hitting option for a squad with legitimate playoff aspirations.
"Doug's certainly got our attention," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said Friday. "I told him, `If somebody else sees you and you and you get an opportunity to play someplace else that's fine.' But he just won't let up. As Yogi (Berra) would say, he's trying to make himself necessary."
Mientkiewicz is hitting .300/.371/.700 this spring with two home runs and 11 RBI in 30 at-bats. Plus, he has one of the wildest player portraits on all of MLB.com.
Odds And Ends: Braves, Bernie, Boras
Links for Saturday…
- MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports that the Braves are considering dealing outfielder Josh Anderson. Bowman suggests the White Sox could be a fit even though Ozzie Guillen said he expects to find a center fielder internally. Bowman also passes along some fun anecdotes about Chipper Jones and Santonio Holmes.
- MLB.com's Sarah D. Morris likes the bench assembled by Dodgers GM Ned Colletti.
- MLB.com's Ed Eagle reports that Bernie Williams wants to play in the majors again, but not if it means playing in the minors or an independent league first.
- In this article by Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune Scott Boras says the Padres will spend more liberally on amateur talent now that Jeff Moorad's taking over the club.
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer offers his take on a female knuckleballer from Japan.
- Tim recently did a Q&A about the Jays at The Blue Jay Hunter blog.
- Steve Melewski of MASN Sports breaks down the minor league free agents in Orioles camp.
- ESPN The Magazine's Jeff Bradley profiled Manny Ramirez.
- The Astros, Marlins and Pirates made decisions about their respective backup catchers.